Plot Summary

Well, if you saw the ones before, and the ones after, this pretty much fills in the gaps. Anakin Skywalker is slowly seduced to evil by Darth Sidious, the Jedi are more-or-less extinguished, and a lot of things explode.

Review

Let’s face it, Star Wars is a big part of modern culture. There have been people waiting for the big blowoff here for longer than some of my readers have been alive. Is there any way at all that anything could possibly live up to all this hype and buildup?

But, as blowoffs go, this wasn’t bad at all. We get a plausible excuse for “cuter-than-thou” young Anakin to turn into the ultimate bad guy of our age, good fight scenes worthy of the Star Wars legacy, and at long last a sense of closure.

High Point

Just because it’s what we all knew would happen, but it’s still spiffy to see it: The first time Darth Vader, in full armour, appears. Right on its heels is the scene that follows with Vader and the Emperor.

Low Point

The scenes with Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen. These two have no chemistry at all, they didn’t in the last one, they still don’t, and it’s so much harder to believe they’re in love, which is definitely a big part of the story. You can’t really feel the sense of loss Anakin feels, and that’s a big loss.

The Scores

Well, let’s face it, this movie is basically the middle of the story, so originality isn’t gonna be its strong suit. But there were plenty of nice “intermediate” touches — ships that are the predecessors of the X-Wings and TIE fighters we’ve all seen in the later movies, and I’ve just gotta give some love to General Grievous. Dorky name, but four-saber kung-fu is definitely spiffy. So I’ll give it 3 out of 6.

Special effects: It’s Lucasfilm, It’s Star Wars, do you really have to ask? The thousands of little touches that you barely notice do add up. The only reason I’m only giving this one 5 instead of 6 points is because the computer-generated Yoda just “seems” off in some way I can’t quite pin down.

Story: This is the big payoff, folks. While we all knew what would happen here, at least in broad strokes, all the details add up. 5 out of 6.

Acting: Aside from that little chemistry thing, the acting is fairly solid throughout. Ian McDiarmid, of course, has probably the most important role, and his subtly insidious portrayal of the kind, well-intentioned Chancellor who’s also the evil mastermind is worth the price of admission all by itself. Even Hayden Christensen, who’s been mocked in the past for a somewhat wooden performance, turns in a passable performance. It seemed to me like Natalie Portman almost phoned in her performance, though; for a role so important, no amount of Ian McDiarmid can really balance it out. Thus, 4 out of 6 here, and that includes a bonus point for “no speaking role for Jar-Jar”.

Emotional response: To borrow from fiziko’s review of Episode II: There is just something awe inspiring when you see the words, “A long time age, in a galaxy far, far away…” and then having it cut the Star Wars logo right as the music queues up. And that just about says it all. This is such a big part of modern pop culture (do I even need the “pop” part in there?) that it’s hard not to have some kind of response to the music, and to the movie that follows. My Low Point above still holds, though… to truly appreciate how far Anakin has fallen, we really need to experience how much he had to lose. 5 out of 6.

Production: You barely notice it, and that’s the whole point. 6 out of 6.

Overall, this is the culmination of a whole generation’s hopes and fears. (Specifically, hoping it’d be worth it, and fearing it would be a stinkfest like Episode I.) Everything all ties in fairly nicely, though, and I’ll give it 6 out of 6 here.

By the numbers, that’s 34 out of 42, the same score as Episode II. Let the “so, was it really better or worse than that” debate begin.

I’m not the only one who thinks this way. One reviewer (at screenit.com) had this to say:

[Padme] has been changed from a spunky heroine to a wimpish pregnant wife.

My thoughts exactly.

y42May 22, 2005 @ 10:29 am

Re: Post-pardum depression?

Look at it this way. Her entire life has crumbled before her eyes. Here twin babies are taken from her, the man she loves has turned evil and has personally killed a vast number of the people he worked with. So I don’t think it’s too inconceivable for her to get suicidally depressed.

The babies are taken away BECAUSE she’s dead, not… the other way around.

hitchMay 19, 2005 @ 8:06 am

err…
where would I procure this “liquid sex” of which you speak?

octaMay 19, 2005 @ 9:34 am

could have been worse
***spoilers abound***
***spoilers abound***
Some dialogue and acting was just really bad. Vader breaking free from his shackles was almost comical; I could see the Frankenstein thing he was going for but that scene just seemed “wrong.”

Some of Portman’s lines and Hayden’s delivery made me cringe. Palpatine(real name escapes me) came off really well though, I liked the maniacal switch after the fight with Mace especially.

I am of the opinion that Lucas should not be directing or writing these things. Did we really need to see so many masters being turned on by the clones? Why did the romance scenes feel hurried and pointless? Why bring up Midichlorians again when so many people hate it? It was such a disconnect with that too, the word could have been totally left out and the revelation of that scene would have stayed intact. Why feel the need to explain the specialness of these characters with such a cheap plot device? I asked that question after episode 1, and with no mention in episode 2 I thought he got it *sigh* /endrant

Still, a good ending/beginning to the saga. A lot of plotholes got tied up neatly(memorywipe anyone?)and seeing Chewy, albeit shortly, was worth the whole damn movie :D Now I await Serenity which I hope to be the holy grail of Sci-Fi.

jbreckenMay 19, 2005 @ 10:03 am

Re: could have been worse

***spoilers abound***
***spoilers abound***Why bring up Midichlorians again when so many people hate it? It was such a disconnect with that too, the word could have been totally left out and the revelation of that scene would have stayed intact

My impression on that scene was that Palpatine was talking about himself when he spoke of the apprentice that learned everything the master knew, even how to make life from midichlorians, which we know was supposedly how Ani was conceived. Thus Palpy was saying in effect “Anakin, I am your father.”

octaMay 19, 2005 @ 10:09 am

Re: could have been worse

My impression on that scene was that Palpatine was talking about himself when he spoke of the apprentice that learned everything the master knew, even how to make life from midichlorians, which we know was supposedly how Ani was conceived. Thus Palpy was saying in effect “Anakin, I am your father.”

Yeah I think it can be safely assumed he was talking about himself(the big reveal). As for conceiving Anakin I’m not sure… Guess we need another 3 pre-prequals on the origin of Sidius. The midichlorians can come out and do a dance number :P

AceCaseORMay 19, 2005 @ 10:31 am

Re: could have been worse

Yeah I think it can be safely assumed he was talking about himself(the big reveal). As for conceiving Anakin I’m not sure… Guess we need another 3 pre-prequals on the origin of Sidius. The midichlorians can come out and do a dance number :P

Maybe they’ll cover that in one of the TV series that Lucas has planned, or possibly in the comic books.

Actually, yeah, if Dark Horse did a comic mini-series about how Palpatine became the man he was, I would buy that.

JerokMay 20, 2005 @ 9:55 am

Re: could have been worse

Maybe they’ll cover that in one of the TV series that Lucas has planned, or possibly in the comic books.

Actually, yeah, if Dark Horse did a comic mini-series about how Palpatine became the man he was, I would buy that.

The periods of the TV shows have been revealed. I believe the animated series will be more clone wars but I do remember them saying that the Live action series was to be based on the time between RotS and New Hope. Apparently starring a certain Twi’lek Jedi.

y42May 22, 2005 @ 10:33 am

Re: could have been worse

***spoilers abound***
***spoilers abound***Why bring up Midichlorians again when so many people hate it? It was such a disconnect with that too, the word could have been totally left out and the revelation of that scene would have stayed intact

My impression on that scene was that Palpatine was talking about himself when he spoke of the apprentice that learned everything the master knew, even how to make life from midichlorians, which we know was supposedly how Ani was conceived. Thus Palpy was saying in effect “Anakin, I am your father.”

He didn’t learn everything the master knew. He later offers Anakin to help him look for this lost secret, so it’s more like “Anakin, I am your father’s apprentice!” which is less awesome.

quantamanMay 19, 2005 @ 3:49 pm

Re: could have been worse

Some of Portman’s lines and Hayden’s delivery made me cringe. Palpatine(real name escapes me) came off really well though, I liked the maniacal switch after the fight with Mace especially.

I kept getting the feeling that Lucas thought he was writing Shakespeare when listening to them talk. The lines just sounded entirely out of place and the relationship didn’t seem to have any substance. Oh yeah and the Midichlorians line completely killed the scene with Palpatine that it snuck in on.

In total I felt the first half of the movie (with all the weak dialog) was fairly weak, as well I couldn’t really get into the action sequences in the first half for some reason.
The second half of the movie however was much better however, I thought Christensen actually did a fairly good job of going evil and the scene with the “younglings” (really dorky name) was pretty damn cool.

J_W_WMay 19, 2005 @ 8:27 pm

Re: could have been worse

***spoilers abound***
***spoilers abound***
I could see the Frankenstein thing he was going for but that scene just seemed “wrong.”

Strangely, when envisioning what Anakin’s transformation in my mind, I had though that it would have been cool for him to be found some time after the battle barely alive by some sort of healer. Then with the help of this person and his mechanical skills, fashioning the Vader equipment for himself and then killing the healer and leaving.

Of course, this is a very very Frankenstein idea, tying closely to the blind man from the novel.

fizikoMay 20, 2005 @ 5:36 pm

Re: could have been worse

***spoilers abound***
***spoilers abound***
Some dialogue and acting was just really bad. Vader
breaking free from his shackles was almost comical; I could
see the Frankenstein thing he was going for but that scene
just seemed “wrong.”

That’s because he shot it wrong. You don’t do that shot as
if you were watching from a catwalk above; it makes the
character appear small and trivial. Had it been up to me,
I’d have shot it with the camera on the ground, looking up
at a steep enough angle to get his chest plate to overlap
the lower lip of his helmet, symbolizing the encroaching
evil machinations. This angle would also have Vader fill
all but the upper corners of the screen, which would then
be filled by his hands once freed, giving the proper
impression of growing power.

J_W_WMay 21, 2005 @ 8:34 pm

Re: could have been worse

***spoilers abound***
***spoilers abound***
Some dialogue and acting was just really bad. Vader
breaking free from his shackles was almost comical; I could
see the Frankenstein thing he was going for but that scene
just seemed “wrong.”

That’s because he shot it wrong. You don’t do that shot as
if you were watching from a catwalk above; it makes the
character appear small and trivial. Had it been up to me,
I’d have shot it with the camera on the ground, looking up
at a steep enough angle to get his chest plate to overlap
the lower lip of his helmet, symbolizing the encroaching
evil machinations. This angle would also have Vader fill
all but the upper corners of the screen, which would then
be filled by his hands once freed, giving the proper
impression of growing power.

You’re right, that would have been a good shot. But you have to hand it to Lucas, the “Masking” part was really disturbing.

obiwanMay 19, 2005 @ 12:28 pm

Kudos to Ewan McGregor
His performance was excellent as my nicknamesake. The moment where Anakin lies crippled and defeated and Obi sadly leaves him to die is the high point for me. It would be a perfect moment if the dialogue was just a tad more polished (especially from Hayden). But that was the scene everyone was waiting for and it was well worth it.

Dark NexusMay 19, 2005 @ 11:26 pm

Re: Effects
I wouldn’t say it was Yoda that was a little off…. it was most of the CG acrobatics. Especially Dooku at the start. Excessive flips REALLY stuck out like a sore thumb.

chadMay 20, 2005 @ 5:46 am

James Earl Jones
Anyone know if James Earl Jones was the one speaking for Darth Vader at the end? It sounded like him, but I can’t find him in the credits (neither at the movie or at IMDB).

J_W_WMay 20, 2005 @ 6:51 am

Re: James Earl Jones

Anyone know if James Earl Jones was the one speaking for Darth Vader at the end? It sounded like him, but I can’t find him in the credits (neither at the movie or at IMDB).

I’m pretty sure it was. I think I remember a story a while back where they interviewed him about reading Vader’s lines again.

Initially, he was uncredited in Star Wars as well.

codejnkiMay 20, 2005 @ 1:45 pm

Re: James Earl Jones

Anyone know if James Earl Jones was the one speaking for Darth Vader at the end? It sounded like him, but I can’t find him in the credits (neither at the movie or at IMDB).

After Palpatine tells Vader that he killed Padme and Vader screams out all I could picture for the rest of the eveaving was Captain Kirk screaming “KAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHNNNNN”

chadMay 20, 2005 @ 5:50 am

Disappearing Jedi [Spoilers]

Notice how they finally explained why some Jedi disappear when they die? There were two references to it: (1) at the end when Yoda told Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon Jinn had found the path to immortality, and (2) earlier when Palpatine told Vader that only one person had discovered the secret of immortality (somehow he knew about Qui-Gon) but that if they worked together they could find it as well.

NakhtiMay 20, 2005 @ 6:38 am

Re: Disappearing Jedi [Spoilers]

Notice how they finally explained why some Jedi disappear when they die? There were two references to it: (1) at the end when Yoda told Obi-Wan that Qui-Gon Jinn had found the path to immortality, and (2) earlier when Palpatine told Vader that only one person had discovered the secret of immortality (somehow he knew about Qui-Gon) but that if they worked together they could find it as well.

1. I don’t remember Qui-Gon disapearing in Episode I…?
2. I thought Palpatine was refering to his Sith Master whom he later killed in his sleep…

fizikoMay 20, 2005 @ 7:38 am

Re: Disappearing Jedi [Spoilers]

I thought Palpatine was refering to his Sith Master whom he
later killed in his sleep…

He was. He didn’t know about Qui-Gon’s discovery, which
was part of the impact. If Anakin had stayed on the light
side, he could have had Padme and the knowledge he
was seeking.

RaonaildMay 20, 2005 @ 10:33 am

Re: Disappearing Jedi [Spoilers]

I thought Palpatine was refering to his Sith Master whom he
later killed in his sleep…

He was. He didn’t know about Qui-Gon’s discovery, which
was part of the impact. If Anakin had stayed on the light
side, he could have had Padme and the knowledge he
was seeking.

I want to watch this movie again just to sort some of this stuff out, there was a lot of dialog to take in. As far as I remember, Palpatine’s story of the Sith Master was about how he could create life from midichlorians, but not about immortality. When he says later on that he only knew of one who knew the secret of immortality, I think he may have been referring to Qui-Gon, from what Yoda mentions later on. And then Palpatine goes on to mention that he and Anakin will figure out how to do it to, theoretically explaining why Anakin later also appears to Luke after his death.

Maybe bodies disappear for the Jedi who really master this particular skill (ie. Yoda and Obi Wan), but for Jedi who want to do it but aren’t quite as good at it (ie. Qui-Gon and Anakin), they don’t disappear, but burning their bodies helps the process along (as both were cremated after death).

ultraexactzzMay 20, 2005 @ 5:06 pm

Re: Disappearing Jedi [Spoilers]

I want to watch this movie again just to sort some of this stuff out, there was a lot of dialog to take in. As far as I remember, Palpatine’s story of the Sith Master was about how he could create life from midichlorians, but not about immortality. When he says later on that he only knew of one who knew the secret of immortality, I think he may have been referring to Qui-Gon, from what Yoda mentions later on. And then Palpatine goes on to mention that he and Anakin will figure out how to do it to, theoretically explaining why Anakin later also appears to Luke after his death.

Maybe bodies disappear for the Jedi who really master this particular skill (ie. Yoda and Obi Wan), but for Jedi who want to do it but aren’t quite as good at it (ie. Qui-Gon and Anakin), they don’t disappear, but burning their bodies helps the process along (as both were cremated after death).

Remember in Episode II, when Anakin kills the Tuskens and Yoda hears the screams? That was Qui-gon. In the novel, Yoda reveals that when he hears the force speak to him, it speaks with the voice of Qui-Gon Jinn, and that somehow Qui-Gon had found a way to commune with the living. The script had dialogue between Yoda and Qui-Gon to this end, ala Luke and Obi-Wan. Cut for time, or for lack of Laim Neeson, I don’t know.

It also explains Obi-Wan’s line in Ep IV to Vader: “Strike me down, and I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine.” Implying that this was a power, rather than hey, I’m a jedi, so I get to be a ghost-thing.

octaMay 20, 2005 @ 8:42 pm

Re: Disappearing Jedi [Spoilers]

I want to watch this movie again just to sort some of this stuff out, there was a lot of dialog to take in. As far as I remember, Palpatine’s story of the Sith Master was about how he could create life from midichlorians, but not about immortality.

I’ve seen it twice. He starts the story of that sith lord about how he could create life from midichlorians but then he goes on to talk about how this man found a way to prevent death itself. This is what piques Anakin’s interest as he’s worried about Padme dying. If you remember the last line in that conversation was Anakin saying “how does one learn this power?” Palpatine responds “Not from a Jedi.” It’s the whole reason he stops Mace.

After seeing it again I’m totally convinced that he was referring to this sith lord which he killed when he says I know of only one who has obtained the power. I’m still not sure if he meant he had conceived Anakin though. Btw the movie is a lot better the 2nd time through, those sabre fights are amazing :D

vanyelMay 21, 2005 @ 12:54 am

Best of the three… [mild spoilers]
…but it does have its faults.

Hayden Christiansen is much better in this one than he was in the previous one, but I would really love to have seen Jamie Bell in this role — he is incredibly good and could have really brought some emotional involvement to the role that Hayden just doesn’t have in him. He also looks more like he would grow into what Anakin looked like when he was a ghost.

The “slow” transition from Anakin to Darth Vader happened much too quickly. Yes, he was disgruntled, but still basically good. Then all of a sudden “oh, I can save padme if I go kill a bunch of people, including a bunch of cute little kids? Sure, no sweat!” I don’t think so. He would still have to agonize over that more and be driven into it. A friend of mine thinks it was the Dark Side controlling him, but I still don’t think he’d give in that easily. Of course, if someone with a better ability to convey emotion were doing it, perhaps we would have seen him being closer to the edge by then… But if he were that far along, he wouldn’t have been as ready to turn in Palpatine. Anyway, this is my single biggest problem with the movie.

Long as it was, it was still very choppy in a lot of places, and could have used a little more background and smoother transitions. Also, many of the fancy saber duels, especially with Yoda, are jerky and don’t look real.

Despite all that, it was a good movie and I expect to see it once or twice more before the DVD shows up…

NakhtiMay 21, 2005 @ 6:50 am

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]

The “slow” transition from Anakin to Darth Vader happened much too quickly. Yes, he was disgruntled, but still basically good. Then all of a sudden “oh, I can save padme if I go kill a bunch of people, including a bunch of cute little kids? Sure, no sweat!” I don’t think so. He would still have to agonize over that more and be driven into it. A friend of mine thinks it was the Dark Side controlling him, but I still don’t think he’d give in that easily.

I thought about this too. It makes more sense when you think of Anakin as extremely obsesive and mentally unstable.
Killing Mace was impulsive, and you see that he immidatly regrets it. I think this is probably what pushed him over the edge. He had done too much now to go back and so followed Palpatine so he could save Padme. Along the way he got a taste of the quick power and became even more corrupted/delusional.

How is the transition in the book? I imagine it would be a bit smoother since you would have insight into the character’s thoughts.

vanyelMay 21, 2005 @ 9:30 am

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]
Something I hadn’t thought about before is the parallel with Luke: also disgruntled, held back, champing at the bit. Yoda’s concerns in Empire have a lot more weight now… I guess what saved him is that he wasn’t head over heels over one of those pesky women ;-) He did run off to save his friends, but he wasn’t already partially corrupted by the influence of someone evil…

J_W_WMay 21, 2005 @ 8:44 pm

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]

Something I hadn’t thought about before is the parallel with Luke: also disgruntled, held back, champing at the bit. Yoda’s concerns in Empire have a lot more weight now… I guess what saved him is that he wasn’t head over heels over one of those pesky women ;-) He did run off to save his friends, but he wasn’t already partially corrupted by the influence of someone evil…

Luke also failed miserably to save his friends and required THEIR help to save him. This actually strenghtens Luke’s resolve and makes him much more mature when facing the big confrontation in Jedi. Seeing this movie just make Luke the bigger true hero, and Vader the immensley tragic hero, who in the end, loses what he wants the most. This movie really makes the ending of Jedi more impactful in my opinion. As it puts a lot more meaning into Luke’s actions and gives Vader a chance to actually make the right choice.

It really ties up the whole series nicely.

I also like that R2 doesn’t get his memory wiped. I’ve always thought that he was more willing accomplice in helping Luke than we thought.

KakiMay 21, 2005 @ 9:29 pm

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]

I also like that R2 doesn’t get his memory wiped. I’ve always thought that he was more willing accomplice in helping Luke than we thought.

I tilt the other way. I figure R2 has such a limited grasp of what is going on and vocabulary to tell anyone later that they just don’t bother to wipe his memory. Cp-30 on the other hand, we saw him relating the story and drama of things to the Ewoks.

They are a dicotomy.

KakiMay 21, 2005 @ 9:37 pm

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]
Darn typing while drunk. Replace “Cp-30” with “C3-P0” and “dicotomy” with “dichotomy”.

And let me explain what I mean a bit more. What I mean by “they are a dichotomy”, is that they aren’t equivilant to a whole person alone, but together they are.

NakhtiMay 22, 2005 @ 8:21 am

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]

Darn typing while drunk. Replace “Cp-30” with “C3-P0”

I believe it’s actally C-3P0. ;)

J_W_WMay 22, 2005 @ 5:43 pm

Re: Best of the three… [mild spoilers]

I also like that R2 doesn’t get his memory wiped. I’ve always thought that he was more willing accomplice in helping Luke than we thought.

I tilt the other way. I figure R2 has such a limited grasp of what is going on and vocabulary to tell anyone later that they just don’t bother to wipe his memory. Cp-30 on the other hand, we saw him relating the story and drama of things to the Ewoks.

They are a dicotomy.

I believe the opposite. I think R2 knows it ALL. He just doesn’t blab it to everyone like 3PO would. I can actually picture R2 embracing his role in A New Hope to bring Luke and Obi-Wan together, and also knowing that he must keep the secret about Vader from Luke just like Obi-Wan and Yoda.

I just like the thought of R2 as a hero of sorts and not just a tag along droid.

joe__geeMay 21, 2005 @ 10:11 pm

Loved it …
Looking forward to seeing it again. I thought the progression was understandable, if unfortunate. I thought Anakin’s fall was like watching a train wreck: gruesome, but too interesting to look away. You know, who wouldn’t sympathize with Anakin’s dilemma: seeing the one you love die in a vision that is certain to come true unless you act, but not knowing the correct action to take, while at the same time being manipulated by everyone around you … By their actions, the Jedi had more of a part in Anakin’s fall than I would have believed.

We knew how it would end, but the journey there, in this movie, was pretty interesting. Sidious’ constant scheming, pitting all sides against each other, and controlling them all, all to confuse and ultimately destroy the Jedi while capturing a more powerful apprentice … Amazing.

Because of the intricacy of his planning, the entire open conflict between Sidious and the Jedi order was over almost before as it began.

-Joe G.

BaseNeptuneMay 21, 2005 @ 10:55 pm

Clarification about SW3 Quote

I just got off a phone call with a friend who posed an interesting question. After Googling around and not coming with any hard evidence, I figured I would post the question here for insightful help.

In the senate, after Palpatine says: “We shall change into the first Galactic Empire for a safe and secure society.”, Amidala turns to Bail and says “This is how democracy/liberty dies. With thunderous applause.”

The question is, what did you hear, ‘democracy’ or ‘liberty’? Both me, him, and all the other people he’s talked to that saw THE midnight showing claim they heard ‘democracy’. The iMDB quote base shows ‘liberty’, and a person who saw a later showing claims ‘liberty’. Could it be possible that there was a slightly different print out there for just the midnight showing?

fizikoMay 22, 2005 @ 5:26 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

The question is, what did you hear, ‘democracy’ or
‘liberty’?

I heard “democracy.” I wasn’t at a midnight show, but I
was watching the print used for the midnight show. Either
way, having two different versions out for that reason
would be costly and pointless, I’d think.

NakhtiMay 22, 2005 @ 8:24 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

did you hear, ‘democracy’ or ‘liberty’?

I heard democracy as well. I went to a Thursday evening showing.

octaMay 22, 2005 @ 12:48 pm

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote
That’s very strange… I heard “liberty” on both the wednesday midnight showing and a late afternoon showing the next day. It was a really good line which is why I remember it. I’m in Canada btw.

marxistMay 23, 2005 @ 12:59 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

That’s very strange… I heard “liberty” on both the wednesday midnight showing and a late afternoon showing the next day. It was a really good line which is why I remember it. I’m in Canada btw.

and you are right. i have the workprint copy, that’s floating around the net and she definitly says “liberty”. i’m curious what she is going to say in the german translation i’m going to see tonight.
btw. did anyone notice, that those lines and the ones about “if you’re not with me, you’re my enemy” (or something ;) ) are (not really subtle) hints, that lucas does not really agree with the current us goverment?

HIMMay 23, 2005 @ 2:58 pm

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

btw. did anyone notice, that those lines and the ones about “if you’re not with me, you’re my enemy” (or something ;) ) are (not really subtle) hints, that lucas does not really agree with the current us goverment

Yeah I noticed that too but I’m pretty sure this script was written before the whole Iraq war, but I guess there’s only so many ways to show the rise of Fascism. (and I heard democracy ).

marxistMay 23, 2005 @ 5:15 pm

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

Yeah I noticed that too but I’m pretty sure this script was written before the whole Iraq war, but I guess there’s only so many ways to show the rise of Fascism. (and I heard democracy ).

yeah you’re right. he is hinting at totaliarism (this is imho a better term for it) in general. but isn’t it frightening how much of it can be found in present day goverments (and i don’t mean the “axis of evil”. it’s all about you’re point of view, isn’t it? ;) )?

On a side note, did anyone else think that the medical droids around Padme looked WAY too cartoonish?

joe__geeMay 23, 2005 @ 3:23 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

That’s very strange… I heard “liberty” on both the wednesday midnight showing and a late afternoon showing the next day. It was a really good line which is why I remember it. I’m in Canada btw.

It was “democracy” at my showing. It’s really strange, there seem to be two prints in circulation.

-Joe

J_W_WMay 23, 2005 @ 6:40 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

That’s very strange… I heard “liberty” on both the wednesday midnight showing and a late afternoon showing the next day. It was a really good line which is why I remember it. I’m in Canada btw.

It was “democracy” at my showing. It’s really strange, there seem to be two prints in circulation.

-Joe

Its liberty in the book.

marxistMay 23, 2005 @ 4:45 pm

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

Its liberty in the book.

and it was “freiheit” in the german translation i’ve seen on the big screen tonight.

btw. “freiheit” means freedom or liberty in english ;)

what reasons could be behind this? what sense do two different prints make? is it a coincidence or a hidden message?

yodapez18May 24, 2005 @ 9:11 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote

Its liberty in the book.

and it was “freiheit” in the german translation i’ve seen on the big screen tonight.

btw. “freiheit” means freedom or liberty in english ;)

what reasons could be behind this? what sense do two different prints make? is it a coincidence or a hidden message?

maybe it was written because americans tend to see democracy and freedom as the same thin, but not so muh the rest of the world.
I think GL was getting political, maybe he doesn’t like bush, or maybe he was harping on the PATRIOT act that was so endorsed after 9/11
um I wouldn’t credit lucas as being that perceptive though, his “messages” tend to be pretty trite

AnCatDubhJune 14, 2005 @ 11:52 am

Re: Clarification about SW3 Quote
The answer may be that there are two sets of prints–digital and celluloid. The digital prints may have been changed last minute for some reason while the film prints would have to have been made in advance.

SciFiManMay 29, 2005 @ 6:20 am

Boy! That was a sith movie!Ill keep my comments brief, though I did generally enjoy the movie.

General Grevious: corny name but very good, if a bit cliched, pompous villian. The duel between he and Obiwan was spectacular.

Count Doku: Flips were just bad animation. The betrayal had a good reaction.

Robot Battle Droids: For combat droids they seemed more like 3 stooges with the reactions of fear and regret. I guess that was for the kids though.

Yoda: Certainly not the creature we were first introduced to under Jim Henson’s watch, though the scene between he and Anikan did give a good impression the tiny master was a gentle mentor. Wonder why Anakin didnt go to him more.

Anakin in the middle: Nice idea to be set against two loyalties. Bad execution even if it does give a reason why he wavered.

Palpatine: What a conniving, patient, machiavailian villain! The actor really did a wonderful job with what was given; though I did think everything in that regard was interestingly done for them. The background revelation was interesting.

Anakin / Darth: Fell too quickly in with the abysmal acts that led him to the Dark Side. The killing of the “younglings”? Too much of a stretch for my taste.

The clone betrayal: The Jedi’s certain acceptance of this clone army was a bit too far fetched for me considering the fact that Jango Fett, the template for the clones, worked for Count Doku as well! Didn’t the republic have an army of thier own? Didn’t the Jedi do more research?
Ah well, Ill order 6th 6 too.

Slaying of the Jedi: Like another said a bit too long. Were they even using the force? I would have expected at least more than one of them to temporarily escape their fate or at least sense something was amiss. Thats where bounty hunters like Boaba Fett would have made thier reps.

Losing Padame: My love does evil things and I just died? I would have expected somthing more like her being seriously hurt in the battle between Obiwan and Anakin.